Kodak revives the retro point-and-shoot photography and vintage filters with the miniature keychain digital Charmera. A modern twist on the brand’s first signature single-use camera, the KODAK Fling, the device brings back the throwaway cameras from the 1980s, now able to save and transfer photos and videos using a USB-C cable and without using any film rolls. The compact and portable device functions as both a digital camera and a collectible item. It is so small that four of these can fit in the user’s hand.

The Kodak digital Charmera with a keychain includes seven different retro-style filters replicating the nostalgic film and vintage photography aesthetics. Alongside these, there are four different Kodak-branded frames that add decorative borders to images and the return of classic photography elements like film sprocket holes or vintage camera branding. A date stamp feature allows users to mark their photos with shooting dates, which is a common feature from film cameras of earlier decades.

all images courtesy of Kodak

Retro Device model with transparent shell 

Inside the compact case sits a digital image sensor that captures both still photographs and video recordings. The camera processes images through built-in software that applies vintage-style filters and frames automatically. There’s no need for them to develop any film; it is all digital. The Kodak digital Charmera with a keychain also connects to external devices through a USB-C port for file transfers without needing WiFi connections. The device requires a micro SD card to store the images and videos, another feature that now seems unusual in personal gadgets.

Kodak offers its digital Charmera with a keychain in seven designs, and one of them comes with a transparent shell so users can partly see the components inside. When they flip the device, a small screen allows them to see the pictures and videos they’ve taken. Another stunt that the brand pulls is the ‘blind box’ selling, meaning users don’t know what kind of design they’re getting until they open the box. Retro photography appeals to the new(er) generation, and Kodak hopes to contribute to the trend through its digital Charmera with a keychain.

Kodak revives the retro point-and-shoot photography and vintage filters with the miniature keychain digital Charmera

view of the device with keychain

it is so small that four of these can fit in the user’s hand

Kodak offers its digital Charmera with a keychain in several designs

one of the designs comes with a transparent shell so users can partly see the components inside

users don’t know what kind of design they’re getting until they open the box

the device also connects to external devices through a USB-C port for file transfers

project info:

name: Charmera

brand: Kodak | @kodakfilm.reto

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The Sasquatch 617 is a panoramic, medium-format film camera developed by industrial designer Derek Chiang in collaboration with industrial and graphic designer Ellie Kim. The project responds to the challenge of capturing wide, uninterrupted landscapes beyond the limits of standard photographic framing.

Unlike stitched digital panoramas, which reconstruct scenes from multiple images, the Sasquatch 617 produces a continuous photograph, making it suited for dynamic environments with movement, such as trees in the wind or breaking waves.

all images courtesy of Derek Chiang and Ellie Kim

Sasquatch 617 expands the limits of panoramic photography

The camera is constructed with a 304 stainless steel exterior frame combined with 3D printed polycarbonate components. With a lens attached, the system weighs approximately 1kg. Functional features include a focusing ring, a rear door panel for full access, and manual film advance knobs. Optional accessories extend usability and include a magnetically attached viewfinder, a magnetically attached shutter release cable, and a protective lens cover.

The Sasquatch 617 model is designed as a robust tool for outdoor use while maintaining precision in construction and operation. Pre-orders will be available on Kickstarter in September 2025, with shipping planned for late December.

built to capture uninterrupted landscapes

shot on Sasquatch 617 | Kodak Ektar 100

shot on Sasquatch 617 | Kodak Gold 200

shot on Sasquatch 617 | Kodak Portra 400

avoids the stitching required in digital panoramas

constructed with a 304 stainless steel frame

uses 3D printed polycarbonate components

balances robust construction with lightweight handling

all components

camera parts sketch

project info:

name: Sasquatch 617
designer: Derek Chiang, Ellie Kim

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Waves by bould design, llc are all-day wearable camera glasses designed for creators who want to record, clip, and stream moments effortlessly. Available in three styles, onyx round for a softer, more approachable look, onyx square for a sleek, understated profile, and y2k silver for those who prefer a bold, expressive statement, Waves combine high-performance video capture with everyday wearability. A discreet 12MP camera is integrated below the nose bridge, enabling natural, uninhibited interaction while recording.

all images courtesy of bould design, llc

Waves Support Uninterrupted, High-Quality Recording

Waves capture 3k video in a 4:3 aspect ratio, with support for 16:9 and 9:16 formats at lower resolutions. Industry-leading stabilization and low-light performance ensure quality results in any setting. Controls are intuitive: a shutter/record button sits on the top of the right temple, with an interior LED indicator providing status feedback. Soft silicone nose pads offer a secure and comfortable fit for extended wear. Developed by bould design, llc, Waves feature a dual-battery system: an internal battery and a hot-swappable external cell. Together, they enable continuous, uninterrupted recording. A protective charging case holds two spare batteries to keep creators powered throughout the day.

record, clip, and stream effortlessly with a single touch

all-day camera glasses designed for creators on the move

designed by Bould Design for real-life storytelling

stream directly to any platform from your glasses

hot-swappable external cell keeps creators powered

discreet 12MP camera sits just below the nose bridge

Waves capture life from your perspective, hands-free

sleek design for daily wear

stay informed with a subtle interior LED indicator

dual-battery design supports continuous recording

record without disrupting the moment

see the world, share the world, with Waves

project info:

name: Waves Camera Glasses
designer: bould design, llc | @bould_design

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Ridhima Saini shows what modern cameras such as the Sony Alpha 7R could look like if they were handcrafted from wood again. The student designer helps bring back the period when photographic devices used wood as their primary material, like the camera obscura. For this project, she crafts the wooden camera to match the Sony Alpha 7R’s real shape and size, guided by Mr. Trilok Chauhan, as her goal is to make the scale model look and feel like its real counterpart. While the main body and material are wood, she uses metal and acrylic for the details, with the latter being used around and in the part of the lens alongside medium-density fiberboard.

The Sony Alpha 7R wooden camera’s grip comprises 22 fiberboard pieces, each having the same size, so when they’re stacked together, they form a curve. There’s a movable dial inside the grip, and a three-millimeter aluminum rod works as the axis. The designer also uses a small diamond file to cut the grooves on the dial’s edge, giving it texture and making it easier to turn. The knobs are also made from aluminum rod, and for the screen that can rotate 180 degrees, the team cut three small cuboids, two of them longer to let the screen turn, and a steel rod is inserted into the holes to act as the hinge pin, allowing the screen cover to rotate all the way around the axis. Finally, the team sands every wooden part of the Sony Alpha 7R camera to smoothen its parts.

all images courtesy of Ridhima Saini

The Role of Wood in Early photography devices

In the past, the frames of camera obscuras were made of cardboard boxes and paper, with lenses made of plastic magnifying glasses. Controlling light was important in these devices because the light coming from outside could ruin the image, so wood was an ideal material because it was dark and blocked light well. The material was malleable, so it took on shapes easily, and it didn’t react with chemicals or give off odors, which were then useful features in traditional photography. Wood was able to keep the temperature and sound stable inside the camera too, as it is naturally ideal for vibration absorption, a handy helper during long camera exposures.

But wood was also heavy, as seen in the dubbed first daguerreotype camera, made by French art restorer Alphonse Giroux. It was a wooden box design with sliding parts weighing over 40 pounds, so it absorbed water from the air and could make it expand or shrink. This caused the wood to change shape, crack, or bend. As camera designs became more precise, it became a serious issue because small changes in shape could ruin the picture by misaligning the lens or film. Because of this, at least as one of the reasons, the cameras shifted from using wood to metal when the technology became more advanced.

Ridhima Saini shows what Sony Alpha 7R could look like if it were handcrafted from wood

Shifting to Metal in Camera Design

During the Industrial Revolution, machines were invented that could produce metal parts, and cameras began to use metal bodies, a material considered stronger and more stable than wood. When Austrian optician Peter Friedrich Voigtländer made a metal camera in 1841, it was a step forward and a shift because it consisted of metal instead of wood and featured the faster Petzval lens. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, metal cameras became more prevalent, and they were found to be easier to carry, last longer, and allow for more complex features. The camera body was more than just a container but a part of the system that produced high-quality images. It also helped that metal did not change shape with heat or moisture, and it could support better lens systems.

Photography improved over time, as better lenses needed more accurate camera parts. Wooden parts were not cut out for lighter, faster, and more convenient cameras, and so the manufactured, metal-looking photographic devices began spreading out. These days, however, shifting to metal from wood misses the touch of manual craftsmanship in exchange for faster production using machines. The distinctive care in crafting cameras is absent, as human hands were replaced by machines. But designers like Ridhima Saini are able to bring wooden cameras back, even if, at the moment, her Sony Alpha 7R is a scale model and not a functional one. It poses an example that, given the current technologies at hand, new cameras have a future of using natural materials that revive their distinctive character and traditional craftsmanship amidst automated production.

the knobs are machined from aluminum

the wooden screen can rotate 180 degrees

while the main body and material are wood, the design uses metal and acrylic for the details

view of the acrylic design around the lens

the wooden devices’s grip comprises 22 fiberboard pieces

project info:

model: Sony Alpha 7R

design: Ridhima Saini | @melon.at.work

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Poetry Camera makes and prints poems about the people, objects, and surroundings it photographs using AI. Reminiscent of an instant camera, there’s a large, protruding camera lens on the boxy frame, which scans the subject. Below it, there’s a slit where the receipt-like paper prints out the poems that the AI Poetry Camera digitally pens. The design looks comical with the sizeable shutter button and viewfinder, but there’s also a nostalgic sense about it, knowing that it gives the user stanzas on a piece of paper rather than projecting them on a screen.

The AI language model that the Poetry Camera uses is from Anthropic named Claude 4. It’s the reason the device can write poems almost instantly using literary language. The user can choose the type of AI-generated poem they want, from haiku, sonnet, and limerick to alliteration and free verse, using the built-in knob. So far, the images and poems aren’t stored digitally on the Poetry Camera, meaning that the only copy the user has is the printed receipt.

all images courtesy of Poetry Camera | photo by Kaylee Pugliese/RISD

Device needs wifi connection to work

Kelin Zhang and Ryan Mather, the masterminds behind the Poetry Camera, have a ‘microfactory’ in New York where they assemble the device by hand. It’s a small team because they want to individually piece the parts together to add their personal touch to the end result. The frame is made of vacuum-cast plastic housings, and the device runs on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W with a Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3. There’s a catch, however. The device can’t work without a WiFi connection. It relies on it to make the language model work and start churning out AI-made poems. The team says that the Poetry Camera that can write poems doesn’t train the AI model it uses. About Anthropic’s Claude 4, they add that they ‘care to pick reputable AI model providers that do not train on your data.’ 

The design team says that the device is a toy for creative expression. Ryan Mather shares with designboom that he and Kelin Zhang choose printed poetry instead of photos ‘to invite you to slow down and appreciate the world around you. It’s kind of like how people tend to prefer the book version of a movie more than the movie version because their memories and imagination feel more personal and special.’ For those who are crafty, they can build the device on their own, as Kelin Zhang and Ryan Mather make it open-source. In case the user isn’t so handy, they can just order the Poetry Camera and allow it to write and print the poems on a piece of paper.

there’s a slit below the lens where the receipt-like paper prints out the poems

sample AI-generated poem by the device

the design team says that the device is a toy for creative expression

the frame is made of vacuum-cast plastic housings

the AI language model that the Poetry Camera uses is from Anthropic named Claude 4

the team assembles the parts by hand in New York

view of the poem printed on a receipt-like paper | photo by Sam McAllister / Anthropic

first test assembly with the new mainboard

view of the redesigned camera with a knob that lets users choose the type of poem they want

project info:

name: Poetry Camera | @poetry.camera

design: Kelin Zhang, Ryan Mather

research: Anthropic | @anthropicai

language model: Claude 4

files: here

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David Lynch artifacts, from movie props and unfinished scripts to his very own cameras, musical instruments, furniture designs, and even a custom director’s chair, head to auction. On June 18th, 2025, starting at 10am Pacific Time in Los Angeles, the David Lynch collection auction event by Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies takes place. It is part of the auction company’s and network’s Hollywood Legends series of archival collections from the industry’s revered figures. For the David Lynch collection auction, the event presents over 450 items that come directly from the filmmaker’s home and personal possessions.

The sale hopes to offer a look at his creative life through the personal artifacts he used to use and work with in his everyday and cinematic life.  The items originate from his film projects, his personal woodshop, and his art studio, so much so that they include props, art supplies, furniture he designed and built, and equipment from his music recording studio. In fact, the handmade coffee table, one-of-one conference table, and homemade wheeled cabinet the filmmaker designed are in the auction event. Other items connect to his other films and personal interests, such as a set of four prop menus from the Winkie’s diner location in the film Mulholland Drive. There is also a boomerang-style sofa of the same model seen in the 1997 film Lost Highway.

Twin Peaks – The Return Screen-Matched Nuclear Bomb Framed Photo from Gordon Cole’s Office behind David Lynch | all images courtesy of Julien’s Auctions

From film prints to custom director’s chair

Several items in the David Lynch collection auction relate directly to the filmmaker, artist, and musician’s work as a director. One lot features his very own custom director’s chair he used during productions (it even has his name on the back). Another item is David Lynch’s personal 35mm film print of his first feature film, Eraserhead. This print of the 1977 film is significant because Eraserhead launched his career.

It achieved a cult status, playing as a midnight movie for years in cities and establishing his signature filmmaking style. The auction also includes many items connected to his series Twin Peaks. One lot contains a red curtain and a black-and-white zig-zag rug from Lynch’s home. These pieces match the design of the Black Lodge, an important and otherworldly location in the show. Another item is a large, framed photograph of a nuclear bomb explosion. This photo appeared in the office of Gordon Cole, the character David Lynch played in Twin Peaks: The Return.

Art Studio Chair and Stool of David Lynch as part of the collection auction

Objects include original finished and unfinished scripts

The David Lynch collection auction shows his life outside of film as well. Take the espresso machines and bean grinders, which hint at the filmmaker’s appreciation for coffee. The auction features several musical instruments, including a Parker Fly electric guitar he used on his solo albums. Another instrument is a custom five-neck console steel guitar that was designed by David Lynch and built by luthier Danny Ferrington. Some of the presented objects are his original finished and unfinished scripts, including Mulholland Drive, Ronnie Rocket, The Dream of the Bovine, The Straight Story, Wild at Heart, Lost Highway, and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

The David Lynch collection auction allows the filmmaker’s fans a chance to own the objects, designs, scripts, artworks, cameras, musical instruments, and more from many areas of the artist’s life. He is a remembered filmmaker, artist, and musician. His body of work includes films and series such as Eraserhead, The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, Lost Highway, and Mulholland Drive. His work across different media has influenced film and television for decades. This auction presents an opportunity for the public to acquire items he owned and used, and Julien’s Auctions accepts bids in person, by telephone, or online on June 18th, 2025, starting at 10am Pacific Time.

the filmmaker’s Art Studio Stool also heads to bidding

Personalized Director’s Chair of David Lynch

Dune Production Office Vintage Telephone

the event presents over 450 items that come directly from the filmmaker’s home and personal possessions

Eraserhead Memorabilia Group with Lynch Signed CDs

Homemade Wheeled Cabinet by David Lynch

Conference Table Designed and Built by David Lynch with Twelve Chairs

Eraserhead Behind-The-Scenes Photo Prints

Montana Luxus Snakeskin Camera

Lost Highway Luna Lounge Prop Matchbooks

project info:

name: The David Lynch Collection 

companies: Julien’s Auctions, Turner Classic Movies | @juliens_auctions, @tcm

auction date and time: June 18th, 2025, starting at 10am Pacific Time

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Xiaomi reveals its modular magnetic lens that turns smartphones into digital cameras during MWC 2025 in Barcelona. Dubbed the Xiaomi Mobile Optical System, the magnetic lens clips right in the middle of the smartphone’s rear, reminiscent of the digital camera back in the days. It features a regular double-Gauss lens as well as Light Fusion X with a custom M4/3 sensor. This means the design team reshapes the light paths of the sensor and finetunes the sensor so that the magnetic lens can capture images and record videos like a digital camera.

The company says the result presents sharp images and videos, even if the modular magnetic lens looks compact and pocket-sized. So far, Xiaomi says that the digital camera-like lens can offer 100 megapixel capacity to the smartphones, independent of the megapixels already offered by the phone cameras. It latches onto the rear of the device and is removable, so it’s not bulky when the user brings it in their pockets. At the moment, the company says that users just need to plug in the modular magnetic lens to start using it.

all images courtesy of Xiaomi

Modular magnetic lens that takes sharp images

For specs buffs, the Xiaomi modular magnetic lens for smartphones has lossless streams of RAW data transfer for images and videos captured by the digital camera-like lens. The company shares that users can transfer these files wirelessly to the Xiaomi AISP, which is dubbed the first AI LM computational photography platform. It’s because of this technology that the images and videos captured have 16 stops of dynamic range, making them clearer and sharper compared to those taken by a smartphone without the digital camera lens.

The company adds that users don’t need to pair or charge the device. It hasn’t explained yet how the device fully works on smartphones, whether there’ll be an app associated with it or the in-house system operates the accessory. Xiaomi also hints that the digital camera-like lens may only be adaptable to their series of smartphones. For this reason, there’s a magnetic slot at the rear of their smartphones, so the lens can clasp on it and users can start using their devices like a digital camera. So far, there’s no news yet on the production date of the smart accessory.

Xiaomi reveals its modular magnetic lens that turns smartphones into digital cameras

the magnetic lens clips right in the middle of the smartphone’s rear, reminiscent of the digital cameras

view of the Xiaomi smartphone without the digital camera lens

the smart accessory features a regular double Gauss lens

the lens can offer up to 100 megapixel capacity

the modular magnetic lens for smartphones has lossless streams of RAW data transfer

front view of the lens

side view of the lens

inside the lens structure with Light Fusion X with a custom M4/3 sensor

so far, there’s no news yet on the production date

project info:

name: Xiaomi Mobile Optical System

company: Xiaomi | @xiaomi.global

event: MWC 2025 | @mwcseries

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Retro designs in modern tech rekindle ‘old’ days

Retro designs have made their comeback as modern tech, from the Barbie and Motorola flip phones to the Polaroid camera in LEGO form. Their functions and buttons have since gotten a massive upgrade, but away from these modern touches, it’s nostalgic to have them back. They look and feel familiar, reframed into statement must-haves relieving the simpler days. Recent technology operates like rapid-fire: one touch is all it takes for features to activate. It wasn’t like this in the past. Users needed to click number ‘six’ three times on their cellphone’s keypad if they wanted to type the letter ‘O’, and they had to wait for the camera film to show them what they photographed.

They must plug the cables to their sound devices for the speaker to start playing music, and the gaming controllers had their own consoles, unlike the two-in-one fix these days with smartphones and the downloadable games and apps. Some users have embraced modern technologies; others miss the gadgets from the past. But there are those who want the best of both worlds, the modern tech with retro designs, and they’re the ones who can enjoy the keypad on the Barbie flip phone, the ejecting film in the LEGO Polaroid camera, the tactile buttons on GameSir’s gaming controller, and the retro pixel-art animation on Divoom’s Ditoo Bluetooth speaker.

HMD Barbie Flip Phone | image courtesy of HMD

upgraded flip phones from barbie to motorola and samsung

Fans can appreciate the renaissance of retro designs in modern tech, but bringing back the vintage designs for a nostalgic flick isn’t always the case, at least not so much with the arrival of the official Barbie phone. It was part of the Barbie mania that took over brands and cities across the globe during the premiere of the movie in 2023. Its wick keeps burning because Mattel continues the buzz when they team up with Human Mobile Devices (HMD), the company that used to make Nokia smartphones, to release the official Barbie phone.

But it’s not an all-screen phone. It’s a flip phone with a tactile keypad. It has a soft click when the user folds it up because of the hinges. There’s a click-clack sound again and again when the user types on the keypad, and that’s a kind of feeling smartphones these days can’t replicate, even with vibrate on keypress. Mattel and HMD aren’t the only ones because Motorola has also released the Razr 40 Ultra, and Samsung, a long-term player in the flip phone game, has introduced several models, including its recent Galaxy Z Flip6. But the Barbie phone gets an edge because, among these names, it’s the only one that hasn’t abandoned the tactile keypad (yet).

the Barbie flip phone has a tactile keypad

modern retro cameras include LEGO polaroid and fujifilm instax

At times, giving in to the retro designs of modern technology can sound as if people were joining just for the recent trend. And why not when the modern retro gadgets do contend as must-have items or gifts? Some of them look cool, but others just tap into the hibernated inner child in people. The latter is a possibility the moment LEGO Ideas releases their Polaroid OneStep SX-70 because it’s a building set for adults who want to recreate the Polaroid camera in the past, but in LEGO form. It’s for both beginner and master photographers, and to top it off, it operates just like a real vintage Polaroid camera model.

No, it can’t take actual pictures, but photographers can load one of the included photographs and eject them out of the camera when they click on the shutter. If users still want an actual camera that takes pictures while still keeping the retro vibes of the design, they can also snap up the Fujifilm Instax Pal. It’s a pocketable digital camera that looks like a surveillance cam, and it prints photos as soon as they click on the shutter. Fujifilm adds a built-in speaker into the model, so users can hear the ‘click’ sound, and when the films stop rolling because there aren’t any pieces left, they can plug in a microSD card to save the photos and transfer them to their computer or cloud drive later.

Motorola Razr 40 Ultra | image courtesy of Motorola

retro pixel art in speaker design and modern gaming controller

It’s nice, though, to have retro-designed modern gadgets around. They can be a well of references for creatives who want to shake up the design of their works. They also remind us of what we left behind, a time that has passed but we still associate good memories or experiences with. It might be a familiar feeling with game consoles as they improve, but luckily, the brands have maintained the physical buttons on the controllers. GameSir, though, takes advantage of people’s use of smartphones and devises X2S. It’s a Type-C mobile gaming controller for iPhone 15, Android, and HarmonyOS smartphones, so users don’t have to keep tapping their screens. The design recreates the buttons of Nintendo 2Ds, complete with analog triggers, clicky buttons, and a joystick. 

It’s also expandable to fit the majority of smartphone sizes these days, and it’s rubber-coated so it doesn’t slip from the gamers’ grip as they spend hours on their screens. While they’re at it, they can also play music in the background using Divoom’s Ditoo retro pixel art Bluetooth speaker. It resembles the arcade machines in the past with its tube-TV-like screen, which is home to its speaker, and the tiny keyboard-like buttons with a tiny joystick. When it plays songs, the keyboard illuminates in neon colors, and the screen lights up with retro pixel animation. The speaker feels nostalgic to have these retro looks back into the present time. Their design elements might just prove how they’ve already stood the test of time, and by the looks of it, they’re not dying down anytime soon.

unlike the Barbie Flip Phone, the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra only has a screen without tactile keypad

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 | image courtesy of Samsung

so far, the Z Flip6 is the most recent flip phone Samsung has released

LEGO Ideas Polaroid camera | image courtesy of LEGO Ideas

the LEGO Polaroid can eject images like a real instant camera

Fujifilm Instax Pal | image courtesy of Fujifilm

users of the Fujifilm Instax Pal can add their microSD card to save their photos to an external source

GameSir’s X2S mobile gaming controller | image courtesy of Gamesir

the GameSir X25 controller is suitable for iPhone 15, Android and HarmonyOS smartphones

Divoom’s Ditoo retro pixel art Bluetooth speaker | image courtesy of Divoom

the speaker’s screen projects retro-pixel animation when music plays

project info:

gadgets: HMD Barbie, Motorola Razr 40 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Flip6, LEGO Ideas Polaroid OneStep SX-70, Fujifilm Instax Pal, GameSir X2S Controller, Divoom Ditoo Retro Pixel Art Bluetooth Speaker

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A recent study claims that Waymo’s autonomous taxis are safer than human-driven vehicles. Conducted by Swiss Re, the research compares how often Waymo’s self-driving and AI-powered cars get into accidents versus human-driven cars based on the reinsurance provider’s data of over 500,000 claims and over 200 billion miles of exposure.

The results unveil that Waymo’s autonomous taxis had far fewer accidents. These range from damaged property like cars or buildings to injured people. In total, the study claims that these vehicles had only nine accidents that damaged property, while human drivers would have had 78, and had only two accidents that injured someone, while human drivers would have had 26.

all images courtesy of Waymo

Fewer accidents with damaged properties and injured people

These numbers mean that there’s an 88 percent reduction in property damage claims and a 92 percent reduction in bodily injury claims with Waymo’s autonomous taxis compared to human-driven vehicles, implying that they’re safer to use. Swiss Re’s study looks at how Waymo’s autonomous taxis compare to recently produced vehicles.

Cars produced between 2018 and 2021, including Waymo’s have the latest safety features designed to prevent accidents, like automatic braking and lane-keeping assist. Even with these features, the study says that Waymo’s autonomous taxis still had few accidents: 86 percent less in terms of damaged properties and 90 percent less in terms of injured people. All of these amount to the claim that these self-driving taxis are safer.

a study conducted by Swiss Re claims that Waymo’s autonomous taxis are safer than human drivers

Self-driving cars map the areas with AI, cameras, and sensors

Waymo says that the study conducted by Swiss Re complements their safety data impact. It indicates that with over 25 million miles from fully autonomous taxis and vehicles, Waymo’s driverless cars had fewer ‘serious’ collisions. This is compared to human drivers, which is the marker of the study. Part of the reason Waymo’s autonomous taxis have been dubbed safe is because they map the areas their cars navigate with AI, cameras, and sensors.

From lane markers and stop signs to curbs and crosswalks, they scout neighborhoods with a test vehicle. It generates highly detailed custom maps that can match with their real-time sensor data and artificial intelligence while driving. In this way, they don’t just rely on external data like GPS and instead build up on their own. 

the study claims that Waymo’s cars have fewer accidents involving damaged properties and injured people

Thanks to the cameras, sensors, and computational systems around Waymo’s autonomous taxis, these vehicles can predict what driving actions to take next. They also see their surroundings for potential barricades, including passersby walking on the crosswalks. The company consistently tests their autonomous taxis in different scenarios. It allows them to get ahead of their own data and foresee potential accidents. They say they’ve completed over 40,000 scenarios in closed course environments while still testing on public roads to evaluate and improve their software. 

Waymo adds that their autonomous taxis and Waymo Driver are the ‘embodiment of fully autonomous technology that is always in control from pickup to destination.’ So far, the driverless ride-hailing service is available in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Austin, Atlanta, and Miami are to follow. The company has recently announced that they’ve partnered with Nihon Kotsu and GO. The collaboration lets them bring autonomous taxis, dubbed safer than human-driven vehicles, to Tokyo for their first international belt.

the study shows 88 percent reduction in property damage claims and a 92 percent reduction in bodily injury claims

these self-driving cars map the areas with AI, cameras, and sensors

interior of Waymo’s autonomously driven Jaguar I-PACE

Waymo’s legacy fully autonomous Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan

project info:

company: Waymo | @waymo

reinsurance company: Swiss Re | @swiss_re_group

study: here

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Eye to Eye camera by designer Yasuaki Matsuura reimagines digital photography by removing the traditional display and placing an empty square in place of the lens. This unique design transforms the camera into a hollow viewfinder that serves as an open frame, fostering a direct eye-to-eye connection between the photographer and the subject at the moment of capture.

all images by Yasuaki Matsuura

Yasuaki Matsuura punctures through camera framing viewports

With the rise of smartphones and social media, modern photo-taking has become screen-centered, often distancing users from the immediate experience of their surroundings. Eye to Eye addresses this by prompting users to engage more deeply with the subjects they capture. The camera becomes both a tool and a statement on memory and presence, exploring the value of shared moments beyond just recording. As the first piece in Matsuura’s art series, Eye to Eye merges digital functionality with a conceptual approach. While fully functional as a digital camera, the piece is intended as a limited-edition artwork rather than a mass-market product.

Eye to Eye camera by Yasuaki Matsuura removes the traditional display

an empty square replaces the lens, serving as a hollow viewfinder that creates an open frame

designed to foster engagement, Eye to Eye prompts users to connect deeply with their subjects

a fully functional camera, Eye to Eye is offered as a limited-edition art piece

by removing the display, Eye to Eye shifts emphasis from digital viewing to in-person interaction

the design encourages a direct, eye-to-eye connection between photographer and subject

project info:

name: Eye to Eye
designer: Yasuaki Matsuura

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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